| 10 Commandments for Aquatic Safety in Swimming Pools by: Anne P. McHugh |
More children die of aquatic injuries every year than any other form of traumatic injury.
Injuries around water are generally devastating. At Pellettieri, Rabstein and Altman, we’ve
handled many cases of aquatic injuries, which could have been avoided with proper
preventative measures in place.
Injuries around water are generally devastating. At Pellettieri, Rabstein and Altman, we’ve
handled many cases of aquatic injuries, which could have been avoided with proper
preventative measures in place.
Pool Safety...
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© 2012 Leak Professionals
While Leak Professionals is in business to locate and repair
the leaks in your swimming pool, we very much care about the
safety of your swimming pool experience. We hope the
information below helps you experience a safe and accident-free
lifetime of swimming pool fun!
the leaks in your swimming pool, we very much care about the
safety of your swimming pool experience. We hope the
information below helps you experience a safe and accident-free
lifetime of swimming pool fun!
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| Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 6:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 2:00pm |
| Protect Children From Drowning - Backyard Swimming Pool Safety by: Trey Collier |
Drowning is often a "silent death" because a victim is usually unable to splash violently or call for help, as one might
expect. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of
death for children 1-14 years old, and an extensive study performed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) found that "75 percent of the children involved in swimming pool submersion or drowning accidents were
between 1 and 3 years old." In addition, the CPSC's study revealed the following statistics:
1. Most of the victims were being supervised by one or both parents when the swimming pool accident occurred.
2. Nearly half of the child victims were last seen in the house before the pool accident occurred. Twenty-three
percent of the victims were last seen on the porch, patio, or in the yard.
3. Sixty-nine percent of the children who became victims in swimming pool accidents were not expected to be in or at
the pool, but were found drowned or submerged in the water.
Protecting children from drowning or becoming submerged in a backyard swimming pool requires more than just a
single safety device or barrier. Providing "layers of protection" is the best strategy for keeping children safe in and
around the pool area.
The first layer of protection is the barrier that surrounds the pool area; generally, this is a pool fence or wall. Fences
or other barriers around the pool area should be at least four feet high, and the spaces between slats or holes in
the barrier must be so small that they prevent a child from gaining a handhold or foothold which would allow them
access to the other side of the barrier. Any gates in the fence that surround your backyard swimming pool should
have the ability to close and latch by themselves so there is no incidence of the gates standing open for any length
of time. In addition, gate latches should be placed out of the reach of children.
Next, any door that comes from the house to the pool area should be equipped with a door alarm that makes a
specific chime if the door is opened. Door alarms need to alert you within 7 seconds after a door is opened and for a
duration of at least 30 seconds, and the sound of the door alarm needs to be a different sound so that it will not be
confused with another alarm that may be in the house. In addition, door alarms should be equipped with a switch or
keypad to allow adults to enter or leave through the door without the alarm sounding. This switch or keypad needs
to be installed high on the interior wall out of a child’s reach.
Another layer of protection is a pool safety cover. Solar pool covers and winter pool covers are not safety covers. In
fact, solar covers and winter covers could possibly be very dangerous because a person who steps out onto the
cover while it is on the pool will quickly become trapped as the pool cover sinks into the water. Escape is extremely
difficult without immediate assistance. When installed, a safety pool cover must be able to hold a minimum of 485
pounds per 5 square feet, according to the American Society for Testing and Materials’ (ASTM) standard F1346-91.
Pool safety covers are anchored to a deck with straps. The straps usually attach to stainless steel springs and are
anchored to recessed brackets in a deck surface. A mesh pool cover prevents rain and snow from puddling on the
top of the cover, but leaves, sticks, and other debris can gather in the pool while the cover is in use. A solid cover
prevents debris from accumulating in the pool, but it does not allow rain and snow to drain through; as a result, the
pool cover can sag and present a drowning danger to small children who may wander onto the cover if not carefully
supervised. Choosing a solid pool cover with drain panels or obtaining a cover pump to remove the excess water is
highly encouraged.
An additional layer of protection is a pool alarm; alarms are only one of the many layers of protection that should be
implemented in and around the backyard swimming pool to decrease the chances of childhood drowning accidents.
There are so many varieties of pool alarms on the market, though, that it may be difficult to know which one to
choose. By considering the following information regarding pool alarms, you should be more prepared to make the
best choice for the safety of the children in your life.
expect. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of
death for children 1-14 years old, and an extensive study performed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) found that "75 percent of the children involved in swimming pool submersion or drowning accidents were
between 1 and 3 years old." In addition, the CPSC's study revealed the following statistics:
1. Most of the victims were being supervised by one or both parents when the swimming pool accident occurred.
2. Nearly half of the child victims were last seen in the house before the pool accident occurred. Twenty-three
percent of the victims were last seen on the porch, patio, or in the yard.
3. Sixty-nine percent of the children who became victims in swimming pool accidents were not expected to be in or at
the pool, but were found drowned or submerged in the water.
Protecting children from drowning or becoming submerged in a backyard swimming pool requires more than just a
single safety device or barrier. Providing "layers of protection" is the best strategy for keeping children safe in and
around the pool area.
The first layer of protection is the barrier that surrounds the pool area; generally, this is a pool fence or wall. Fences
or other barriers around the pool area should be at least four feet high, and the spaces between slats or holes in
the barrier must be so small that they prevent a child from gaining a handhold or foothold which would allow them
access to the other side of the barrier. Any gates in the fence that surround your backyard swimming pool should
have the ability to close and latch by themselves so there is no incidence of the gates standing open for any length
of time. In addition, gate latches should be placed out of the reach of children.
Next, any door that comes from the house to the pool area should be equipped with a door alarm that makes a
specific chime if the door is opened. Door alarms need to alert you within 7 seconds after a door is opened and for a
duration of at least 30 seconds, and the sound of the door alarm needs to be a different sound so that it will not be
confused with another alarm that may be in the house. In addition, door alarms should be equipped with a switch or
keypad to allow adults to enter or leave through the door without the alarm sounding. This switch or keypad needs
to be installed high on the interior wall out of a child’s reach.
Another layer of protection is a pool safety cover. Solar pool covers and winter pool covers are not safety covers. In
fact, solar covers and winter covers could possibly be very dangerous because a person who steps out onto the
cover while it is on the pool will quickly become trapped as the pool cover sinks into the water. Escape is extremely
difficult without immediate assistance. When installed, a safety pool cover must be able to hold a minimum of 485
pounds per 5 square feet, according to the American Society for Testing and Materials’ (ASTM) standard F1346-91.
Pool safety covers are anchored to a deck with straps. The straps usually attach to stainless steel springs and are
anchored to recessed brackets in a deck surface. A mesh pool cover prevents rain and snow from puddling on the
top of the cover, but leaves, sticks, and other debris can gather in the pool while the cover is in use. A solid cover
prevents debris from accumulating in the pool, but it does not allow rain and snow to drain through; as a result, the
pool cover can sag and present a drowning danger to small children who may wander onto the cover if not carefully
supervised. Choosing a solid pool cover with drain panels or obtaining a cover pump to remove the excess water is
highly encouraged.
An additional layer of protection is a pool alarm; alarms are only one of the many layers of protection that should be
implemented in and around the backyard swimming pool to decrease the chances of childhood drowning accidents.
There are so many varieties of pool alarms on the market, though, that it may be difficult to know which one to
choose. By considering the following information regarding pool alarms, you should be more prepared to make the
best choice for the safety of the children in your life.
An Evaluation of Swimming Pool Alarms
An evaluation of swimming pool alarms conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2000 tested
three different types of pool alarms: surface wave sensors, subsurface disturbance sensors, and a wristband sensor. Surface
wave sensors float on the surface of the water. Subsurface disturbance sensors attach to the side of the pool, and a portion of
the sensor is submerged below the water's surface. The wristband sensor is worn by the child and sounds an alarm if the device
is submerged.
The CPSC's study included multiple tests of each device in 6 backyard swimming pools of varying shape and size. The goals of
the study were "to determine whether the surface and subsurface wave sensors would alarm when a test object entered the
pool, and to determine whether the wristband would alarm when exposed to pool water." Additionally, the study tested for false
alarms that may be triggered by weather conditions such as wind and rain, and those that may be triggered by an object such as
a beach ball or soccer ball.
According to the results of the CPSC study, the surface wave sensors did not perform as reliably as the subsurface disturbance
sensors when a test object was thrown into the pool. The study concludes that subsurface disturbance sensors "were more
consistent in alarming and less likely to false alarm than the surface alarms." The wristband sensor sounded an alarm each
time it was submerged in pool water and each time it was exposed to other water sources, such as that from a faucet or hose.
The CPSC study did not include tests of infrared motion detection alarms, which are another type of swimming pool alarm
system. Infrared motion detection devices sound an alarm if a child, adult, or object enters the beam path that surrounds the
pool. Some alarm systems include a subsurface disturbance sensor in addition to the motion detection feature to increase the
level of protection.
While pool alarms may come with many more features than are presented here, the following is a list of recommended features
to look for when deciding on a pool alarm for your own backyard swimming pool:
Once you decide which pool alarm is best for your backyard swimming pool, performing regular tests of the alarm's effectiveness
will ensure that your alarm continues to function properly over time. The user's manual for each type of pool alarm should provide
instructions for conducting your own tests.
An evaluation of swimming pool alarms conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2000 tested
three different types of pool alarms: surface wave sensors, subsurface disturbance sensors, and a wristband sensor. Surface
wave sensors float on the surface of the water. Subsurface disturbance sensors attach to the side of the pool, and a portion of
the sensor is submerged below the water's surface. The wristband sensor is worn by the child and sounds an alarm if the device
is submerged.
The CPSC's study included multiple tests of each device in 6 backyard swimming pools of varying shape and size. The goals of
the study were "to determine whether the surface and subsurface wave sensors would alarm when a test object entered the
pool, and to determine whether the wristband would alarm when exposed to pool water." Additionally, the study tested for false
alarms that may be triggered by weather conditions such as wind and rain, and those that may be triggered by an object such as
a beach ball or soccer ball.
According to the results of the CPSC study, the surface wave sensors did not perform as reliably as the subsurface disturbance
sensors when a test object was thrown into the pool. The study concludes that subsurface disturbance sensors "were more
consistent in alarming and less likely to false alarm than the surface alarms." The wristband sensor sounded an alarm each
time it was submerged in pool water and each time it was exposed to other water sources, such as that from a faucet or hose.
The CPSC study did not include tests of infrared motion detection alarms, which are another type of swimming pool alarm
system. Infrared motion detection devices sound an alarm if a child, adult, or object enters the beam path that surrounds the
pool. Some alarm systems include a subsurface disturbance sensor in addition to the motion detection feature to increase the
level of protection.
While pool alarms may come with many more features than are presented here, the following is a list of recommended features
to look for when deciding on a pool alarm for your own backyard swimming pool:
- Easy installation
- Tamper proof
- Includes a remote receiver with a range of up to 200 ft or more
- Low battery indicator on alarm and on receiver
- Recommended for the size and shape of your swimming pool
- Able to detect an object as small as a 1 year old child, approximately 18 pounds
- A loud and distinct alarm should sound within 20 seconds each time a child simulator is dropped into the pool.
Once you decide which pool alarm is best for your backyard swimming pool, performing regular tests of the alarm's effectiveness
will ensure that your alarm continues to function properly over time. The user's manual for each type of pool alarm should provide
instructions for conducting your own tests.
No pool alarm is fail-safe no matter how many technologies and features are included and no matter what claims are
made by the manufacturer. Pool alarms should be considered as one of many layers of protection in the effort to
prevent children from drowning, along with protective barriers, door alarms, and safety pool covers.
The first and most important way to protect children from drowning accidents, though, is to provide close and
constant supervision by a responsible adult. A combination of safety measures is essential for creating a safe
backyard environment for all of the children in your life.
Source:
Whitfield, Troy W. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “An Evaluation of Swimming Pool Alarms.” May 2000.
Trey Collier is owner of BackyardCityPools.com - North America’s finest resource for quality pool supplies, including a wide selection of
safety products such as Pool Alarms, pool safety covers, and anti-entrapment safety drain covers.
made by the manufacturer. Pool alarms should be considered as one of many layers of protection in the effort to
prevent children from drowning, along with protective barriers, door alarms, and safety pool covers.
The first and most important way to protect children from drowning accidents, though, is to provide close and
constant supervision by a responsible adult. A combination of safety measures is essential for creating a safe
backyard environment for all of the children in your life.
Source:
Whitfield, Troy W. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “An Evaluation of Swimming Pool Alarms.” May 2000.
Trey Collier is owner of BackyardCityPools.com - North America’s finest resource for quality pool supplies, including a wide selection of
safety products such as Pool Alarms, pool safety covers, and anti-entrapment safety drain covers.
| Disclaimer The material provided on this website is for informational purposes only. Leak Professionals assumes no responsibility for any consequence relating directly or indirectly to any action or inaction taken based on the information on this website. |
1. Insist on life vests for non-swimmers: Anyone who cannot swim or stand safely in your pool should wear one or
use a certified inflatable device.
2. No diving off the edge: Most pools have no depth markings, identifying when you are in the deep end. That
transition slope is hard to see and can cause a broken neck if one hits his/her head on it.
3. No diving in any aboveground swimming pool: Be sure there are adequate warnings to advise your family and
guests that this is a NO DIVING POOL and they risk serious neck injury if they dive.
4. Never go down any waterslide headfirst: Water levels at the tip of the flume often fall due to dehydration and lack
of attentiveness on those charged with insuring that the water back flows into the slide, to slow your body down. If
the water drops too low, you risk severe injury because the pools are shallow to accommodate all ages, sizes and
shapes.
5. Install proper safety fencing: Most children who drown in a pool are neighbors, not your children. Contact your
township to be sure the fencing around your pool complies with codes and ordinances.
6. Install alarms and motion detectors: Check with your town for existing ordinances governing these devices that
keep unwary parents alert to wandering children. For aboveground pools, make sure the ladder can be lifted up to
prevent unsupervised entry.
7. Remove private waterslides from your pool: With so many more broken necks associated with waterslides, the
Consumer Products Safety Commission engaged in a massive study to warn the public of their hazards. Remove
slides from your pool immediately.
8. No diving boards on residential pools: Young athletic swimmers can easily strike the transition slope when diving
off a board in a residential pool. Removing it will prevent injury.
9. Use Pool Lights for Night Swimming: Install them if you don’t have them.
10. Know the Water’s Terrain: Teach your children to always dive shallow and to steer up as they enter any body of
water and to NEVER dive if they do not know the depth or the terrain underneath.
We’ve represented many people, winning millions of dollars in these types of cases. But no award will recover the
lives lost or the pain the families suffer in cases of permanent disability or loss of a loved one. Be Safe.
Ms. Anne P. McHugh, Esq. is an attorney in the Princeton-based law firm of Pellettieri, Rabstein & Altman and specializes in general
litigation and personal injury cases; she has represented hundreds of children and adults suffering broken necks and other severe
aquatic related injuries. For more information, visit http://www.pralaw.com.
use a certified inflatable device.
2. No diving off the edge: Most pools have no depth markings, identifying when you are in the deep end. That
transition slope is hard to see and can cause a broken neck if one hits his/her head on it.
3. No diving in any aboveground swimming pool: Be sure there are adequate warnings to advise your family and
guests that this is a NO DIVING POOL and they risk serious neck injury if they dive.
4. Never go down any waterslide headfirst: Water levels at the tip of the flume often fall due to dehydration and lack
of attentiveness on those charged with insuring that the water back flows into the slide, to slow your body down. If
the water drops too low, you risk severe injury because the pools are shallow to accommodate all ages, sizes and
shapes.
5. Install proper safety fencing: Most children who drown in a pool are neighbors, not your children. Contact your
township to be sure the fencing around your pool complies with codes and ordinances.
6. Install alarms and motion detectors: Check with your town for existing ordinances governing these devices that
keep unwary parents alert to wandering children. For aboveground pools, make sure the ladder can be lifted up to
prevent unsupervised entry.
7. Remove private waterslides from your pool: With so many more broken necks associated with waterslides, the
Consumer Products Safety Commission engaged in a massive study to warn the public of their hazards. Remove
slides from your pool immediately.
8. No diving boards on residential pools: Young athletic swimmers can easily strike the transition slope when diving
off a board in a residential pool. Removing it will prevent injury.
9. Use Pool Lights for Night Swimming: Install them if you don’t have them.
10. Know the Water’s Terrain: Teach your children to always dive shallow and to steer up as they enter any body of
water and to NEVER dive if they do not know the depth or the terrain underneath.
We’ve represented many people, winning millions of dollars in these types of cases. But no award will recover the
lives lost or the pain the families suffer in cases of permanent disability or loss of a loved one. Be Safe.
Ms. Anne P. McHugh, Esq. is an attorney in the Princeton-based law firm of Pellettieri, Rabstein & Altman and specializes in general
litigation and personal injury cases; she has represented hundreds of children and adults suffering broken necks and other severe
aquatic related injuries. For more information, visit http://www.pralaw.com.
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Articles:
 | 10 Commandments for Aquatic Safety in Swimming Pools | |
| Protect Children From Drowning - Backyard Swimming Pool Safety | |
| Leak Professionals is a residential and commercial swimming pool leak detection and swimming pool repair company, serving the entire Dallas/Fort Worth Texas Metroplex, including the cities of Allen, Arlington, Carrollton, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, Ft. Worth, Garland, Irving, Lewisville, Plano, Richardson...and many more! |
| Serving the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metro 972-900-9762 |
| Providing Quality Swimming Pool Leak Detection and Swimming Pool Repair Service at a Reasonable Price |
 |